Living Wage Calculator estimates the cost of living (“living wage”) in each of the nation’s counties and major metropolitan areas and compares it to the minimum wage for a variety of household types. Mapped here are three types: parent with spouse and two children, a single parent with one child, and a single adult.
Variations in the gap between living wage and minimum wage occur for a variety of reasons. A city with a relatively high minimum wage, for instance, may still show a large gap due to a high cost of living. Conversely, living expenses tend to be lower in rural areas, making even a relatively low minimum wage come closer to meeting basic household needs.
